Fluid delivery to cells and sensing properties of cells using nanotubes

Abstract

A fluid delivery technique includes inserting a first end of a nanotube into the cell, connecting a second end of the nanotube to a fluid supply, and transferring fluid from the fluid supply into the cell via the nanotube. A technique for determining or sensing a property of a cell includes inserting two nanotubes into the cell, measuring at least one of a voltage and a resistance between the two nanotubes, and relating the at least one of the voltage and the resistance to a property of the cell. Other techniques and apparatus for fluid delivery to cell and sensing properties of a cell are also disclosed.

1 . A method for delivering a fluid into a cell, the method comprising: 
 inserting a first end of a nanotube into the cell;    connecting a second end of the nanotube to a fluid supply; and    transferring fluid from the fluid supply into the cell via the nanotube.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising attaching the cell to a support.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising forming a nanotube in a passageway of a support, and removing a portion of the support to expose the first end of the nanotube.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising forming a nanotube in a passageway of a support, and forming a cutout in the support into which the first end of the nanotube extends.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises at least one of a drug and a chemical.  
     
     
         6 . A fluid delivery device for delivering a fluid to at least one cell, said fluid delivery device comprising: 
 a support having a passageway therethrough;    a nanotube disposed in said passageway, said nanotube having a first end extending from a surface of said support; and    a sidewall extending from said support to form a container for containing a fluid in fluid communication with a second end of said nanotube.    
     
     
         7 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 6  wherein said passageway comprises a plurality of spaced-apart passageways, said at least one nanotube comprises a plurality of nanotubes each of which being disposed in a different one of said plurality of passageways, and said plurality of nanotubes having a plurality of first ends extending from said surface of said support.  
     
     
         8 . A fluid delivery device for delivering a fluid to at least one cell, the fluid delivery device comprising: 
 a support having a passageway therethrough which opens into a cutout on a surface of said support;    at least one nanotube disposed in said at least one passageway and having a first end of the nanotube extending into said cutout; and    said cutout being configured for receiving at least one cell into which said first end of the nanotube is insertable.    
     
     
         9 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 8  further comprising a container in fluid communication with a second end of the nanotube.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 9  wherein the passageway comprises a plurality of spaced-apart passageways, and the at least one nanotube comprises a plurality of nanotubes each of which being disposed in a different one of the plurality of passageways and extending into a different one of a plurality of cutouts extending around openings of the plurality of passageways.  
     
     
         11 . A method for forming a fluid delivery device, the method comprising: 
 providing a support having a passageway therein;    forming a nanotube in the passageway; and    removing a portion of the support to expose a first end of the nanotube.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising attaching a sidewall to the support to form a container for containing fluid in fluid communication with a second end of the nanotube.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the removing comprises forming a cutout in the support around the exposed first end of the nanotube for receiving a cell in the cutout.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising attaching a sidewall to the support to form a container for containing fluid in fluid communication with a second end of the nanotube.  
     
     
         15 . A method for fluidly connecting two or more cells, the method comprising: 
 inserting one end of a nanotube into a first cell; and    inserting the other end of the nanotube into a second cell.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising exchanging biological matter between the cells via the nanotube.  
     
     
         17 . A method for determining a property of a cell, the method comprising: 
 inserting two nanotubes into the cell;    measuring at least one of a voltage and a resistance between the two nanotubes; and    relating the at least one of the voltage and the resistance to a property of the cell.    
     
     
         18 . A method for sensing a property of a cell, the method comprising: 
 inserting two nanotubes into the cell;    applying a voltage to the two nanotubes; and    sensing a property of the cell.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the applying comprises applying a voltage having at least one of a generally constant frequency and a generally constant amplitude.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the applying comprises applying a varying voltage, and the sensing comprises sensing a response spectrum of the cell based on the varying voltage and relating the response spectrum to the property of the cell.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the varying voltage comprises at least one of the varying voltage having a varying frequency and the varying voltage having a varying amplitude.  
     
     
         22 . A method for determining a property of a cell, the method comprising: 
 supporting the cell on a contact;    inserting a nanotube into the cell;    measuring at least one of a voltage and a resistance between the contact and the nanotube; and    relating the at least one of the voltage and the resistance to a property of the cell.    
     
     
         23 . A method for sensing a property of a cell, the method comprising: 
 supporting the cell on a contact;    inserting a nanotube into the cell;    applying a voltage to the contact and the nanotube; and    sensing a property of the cell.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the applying comprises applying a voltage having at least one of a generally constant frequency and a generally constant amplitude.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the applying comprises applying a varying voltage, and the sensing comprises sensing a response spectrum of the cell based on the varying voltage and relating the response spectrum to the property of the cell.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the varying voltage comprises at least one of the varying voltage having a varying frequency and the varying voltage having a varying amplitude.  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for use in measuring the impedance spectra of a cell, said apparatus comprising: 
 a nonconductive support;    two spaced-apart conductive pads;    a first and second plurality of nanotubes each of which extending from a respective one of said two conductive pads; and    wherein at least one of said first and said second plurality of nanotubes being spaced apart a distance for receiving a cell therein, and the first and second nanotubes defining a plurality of cavities for receiving individual cells therein.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the first and second plurality of nanotubes are spaced apart a distance less that about 3 microns.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the cavities are sized at less than about 3 microns by less than about 3 microns.  
     
     
         30 . A method for measuring an impedance spectra of at least one cell, the method comprising: 
 providing a nonconductive support;    depositing two spaced-apart conductive pads on the support;    forming a first and a second plurality of nanotubes extending from the conductive pads wherein at least one of the first and the second nanotubes being spaced-apart a distance for receiving a cell therein and the first and the second nanotubes defining a plurality of cavities for receiving individual cells therein; and    measuring the impedance spectra using an impedance spectrometer attached to the conductive pads.    
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for measuring an impedance spectra of at least one cell, said apparatus comprising; 
 a nonconductive support having at least one passageway for receiving the at least one cell; and    a pair of contacts disposed on opposite ends of the support and connectable to an impedance spectrometer.    
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for measuring a radiation spectra of at least one cell, said apparatus comprising: 
 a support having at least one passageway for receiving the at least one cell;    a radiation source disposed adjacent the support; and    a detector disposed adjacent said support for detecting radiation from said at least one cell.    
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of claims  32  wherein the radiation source is disposed on one side of the at least one cell, and the detector is disposed on an opposite side of the at least one cell.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of claims  32  wherein the radiation source and the detector are disposed on the same side of the at least one cell.  
     
     
         35 . A method of delivering a fluid and sensing a property of a cell, the method comprising: 
 inserting a nanotube into the cell;    introducing a fluid through the nanotube into the cell;    detecting a property of the cell using the nanotube.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the inserting comprises inserting a plurality of nanotubes into the cell, the introducing comprises introducing the fluid through one of the plurality of nanotubes, and the detecting comprises detecting an electrical potential between at least two of the plurality of nanotubes.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the detecting comprises detecting an electrical potential between the nanotube and a support on which the cell is attached.